8th matchday
Openda scores after 44 seconds: Leipzig wins in Darmstadt
RB Leipzig earned a 3-1 away win in Darmstadt thanks to a brace from Openda. photo
© Thomas Frey/dpa
For a long time, RB Leipzig didn’t make enough use of its playing skills at the Böllenfalltor. In the end, the Belgian newcomer Lois Openda can celebrate twice.
With a lightning goal, but also a lot of effort, the title candidate has RB Leipzig completed the mandatory task at SV Darmstadt 98. Coach Marco Rose’s team won 3-1 (2-1) against the promoted team from southern Hesse. In front of 17,810 spectators in the sold-out stadium at Böllenfalltor, Lois Openda took the lead after just 44 seconds – it was the earliest goal in this Bundesliga season.
Emil Forsberg (24th minute) and again Openda (75th) with his sixth goal of the season also scored for the guests. Tobias Kempe (32nd) scored a penalty for the Lilies during their respectable performance.
Hard-fought game
Before the next Champions League game on Wednesday against Red Star Belgrade, the Saxons celebrated the sense of success they had hoped for after previously remaining winless in three competitive games. It was a setback for the Darmstadt team after two previous wins. The league outsiders met Leipzig at eye level for a long time in the hectic and tough game.
Dani Olmo was back in the visitors’ squad for the first time since the knee injury he suffered six weeks ago, but the offensive strategist sat on the bench until shortly before the end. The Spaniard saw RB strike in the first minute. Openda took advantage of a pass from Benjamin Henrichs from a tight angle to make it 1-0.
Openda, Forsberg and Henrichs there
Henrichs, who was recently injured, returned to the starting line-up, which also included Openda and Emil Forsberg. The Belgian and Swedish internationals had to cope with the night of the attacks in Brussels during their European Championship qualifier, when an assassin shot two Swedish fans in the city on Monday.
The 23-year-old Openda initially continued to keep the dismayed Darmstadt players busy – as did the other ball-proof Leipzigers. The Lilien professionals mostly rushed after and also missed their first chance through Luca Pfeiffer. Forsberg then saw the gap with a free kick from 18 meters – and Marcel Schuhen in the goalkeeper’s corner didn’t look good.
Equalize with a penalty
However, the passionately fighting hosts did not give in and continued to put more and more pressure on Leipzig. They gratefully accepted a faux pas from Kevin Kampl: the Austrian knocked Kempe off his feet, and the fouled man himself converted the penalty to make it 1-2.
Otherwise, the RB team didn’t offer enough for its class and demands in this phase and also had difficulty dealing with the opponents’ rough style of play. Darmstadt even pushed for an equalizer after the break. The home team vehemently demanded another penalty when captain Fabian Holland put the ball past Henrichs and fell. But referee Harm Osmers didn’t accept it.
VAR takes a long time
After a long wait, Openda managed to make it 3-1 thanks to the video evidence. The attacker wasn’t offside after all. His cheering in the direction of the Darmstadt fan stand was so provocative that some lily fans jumped over the fence in anger. Joker Timo Werner still has a great chance of failing at the SVD keeper’s shoes. Nevertheless, Leipzig remains unbeaten in all of its 29 duels with promoted teams so far.